September 18-20, 2023

Bill amended on Second Consideration

SB 531 (BAKER) Amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) to establish a Grant Evaluation Committee responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications for grants awarded from the Veterans’ Trust Fund and for providing recommendations on use of funds. AMENDED AND RE-REFERRED TO APPROPRIATIONS.

A01379 (BAKER) Specifies the Grant Evaluation Committee of the Veterans’ Trust Fund will consist of 5 appointees of the Adjutant General and one appointment by each caucus of each chamber, and that each of these appointments must be a veteran. ADOPTED 35-10.

Bills voted on Supplemental

SB 373 (BAKER) Amends the State Lottery Law to provide confidentiality of certain personal identification information for prizewinners of $100,000 or more. PASSED 45-0.
SB 382 (LAUGHLIN) Amends the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act to provide for a cap on the groin structure fee currently imposed upon private landowners charged with the responsibility of maintaining the structures. PASSED 44-1.
SB 712 (BROWN) Amends the Clinical Laboratory Act to permit clinical laboratories to directly or indirectly advertise or solicit business for diagnostic laboratory testing if certain conditions are met. Stipulates the Department of Heath may prohibit the use of a clinical laboratory’s advertisement or solicitation of business for diagnostic laboratory testing or impose a penalty if the department determines that the diagnostic laboratory testing poses a public threat or is not in compliance with this section. PASSED 45-0.

Bills voted on Third Consideration

SB 843 (ARGALL) Amends the Public School Code to authorize Pennsylvania’s entry into the Interstate Teacher
Mobility Compact. PASSED 46-0.
HB 1209 (TWARDZIK) Amends the Tobacco Product Manufacturer Directory Act to modify the definition of “units sold” to be consistent with changes in the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Act, to extend liability under the act to importers, to ensure that nonparticipating manufacturers and their importers comply with their legal obligations and to otherwise implement the Nonparticipating Manufacturer Adjustment Settlement Agreement. PASSED 46-0.
HB 1407 (BOYD) Amends the definition of “units sold” to expand the application of the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Act’s escrow requirements to all cigarettes on which the Commonwealth would be permitted to collect a state excise tax. Includes roll-your-own tobacco. PASSED 46-0.
SB 815 (BAKER) Amends the Tax Reform Code provides that income received by a resident trust, and income received by a nonresident trust from sources within the Commonwealth, is taxable to the grantor of the trust or another person to the extent the grantor or other person is treated as the owner of the trust under the federal Internal Revenue Code, whether or not such income is distributed or distributable to the beneficiaries of the trust or accumulated. PASSED 46-0.
SB 654 (Bartolotta) Amends the Tax Reform Code to allow a person to claim a deduction for depletion of a mine, oil and gas well and other natural deposits by utilizing a cost or percentage depletion method in accordance with federal law. PASSED 44-2.
Bill amended on Third Consideration
SB 773 (GEBHARD) Amends the Medical Marijuana Act to provide two dispensary permits to each qualifying independent grower/processor, allowing them to operate six retail stores. OVER AS AMENDED.

A02014 (GEBHARD) Establishes a sale ban for one year after the grower/processor receives an operational certificate. Also ensures new vertically integrated entities are following all regulations current dispensaries must follow and makes adjustments to their fee structure, so it aligns with the structure of current vertically integrated entities. ADOPTED 46-0.

HB 27 (STRUZZI) Amends the Public School Code to extend or make permanent certain substitute teacher and classroom monitor permit provisions set to expire at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. AMENDED AND REREFERRED TO APPOPRIATIONS.

A02052 (REGAN) Transfers the functions of the Office of Safe Schools to PCCD; requires school district information on School Police Officers (SPO) and School Resource Officers (SRO) to be transmitted to the School Safety & Security Committee (SSSC); establishes an Executive Committee within the SSSC; requires the Executive Committee to meet, at a minimum, every two months regarding time-sensitive school safety updates; provides technical assistance to school and county collaboratives; transfers School & Nonpublic Grant Programs to PCCD; adds PA Homeland Security Director to SSSC. ADOPTED 46-0.

A02046 (COSTA) Makes a technical correction to language relating to community violence prevention to match other provisions of law, this language does not appropriate any funds. Provides implementation language to release the previously appropriated $100 million in K-12 mental health funding. From the $100 million, $5 million will be sent to PHEAA for the School-based Mental Health Internship Grant Program, $5 million will be sent to PDE to be used to provide training of school mental health professionals. The remaining money will be sent using the same formula as last year: $100,000 per school district, $70,000 per intermediate unit, area career and technical school, charter school, and cyber charter with the remaining funds distributed based off average daily membership. ADOPTED 45-1.

Bills voted on Third Consideration

SB 224 (AGRALL) Amends the Election Code to set the date of the 2024 General primary election for March 19. PASSED 45-2.
SB 773 (GEBHARD) Amends the Medical Marijuana Act to provide two dispensary permits to each qualifying independent grower/processor, allowing them to operate six retail stores. PASSED 44-3.
HB 797 (B. MILLER) Amends the State Highway Law to require PennDOT to plant native vegetation along highways, where feasible. PASSED 45-2.
HB 1171 (HILL-EVANS) Amends the Combustible and Flammable Liquids Act to increase the allowable distance between an emergency shut-off device and the farthest fuel dispensing device at a retail service station from 200 feet to 350 feet. PASSED 47-0.

Bill voted on Supplemental

HB 27 (STRUZZI) Amends the Public School Code to extend or make permanent certain substitute teacher and classroom monitor permit provisions set to expire at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. Also provides for school safety initiatives and funding for school mental health services and training of school-based mental health professionals. PASSED 47-0.

Executive Nominations

Appalachian States Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission, Dwight A. Shearer CONFIRMED 47-0.
Children’s Trust Fund Board, Nacole E. Hough CONFIRMED 47-0.
Children’s Trust Fund Board, Cathleen L. Palm CONFIRMED 47-0.